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Children's mental health menaced by 'unprecedented toxic climate'

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Children and young people are growing up in an "unprecedented toxic climate" of stress and pressure, according to a survey. Fear of failure, bullying, pressure to be thin and depression were some of the issues complained of by the 2,000 youngsters, aged 11 to 25, who were questioned in a poll commissioned for the national charity YoungMinds.

Over half of children and young people believed they would be a failure if they did not get good grades at school or college; half said they had been bullied; and a third said they did not know where to turn to get help when they felt depressed or anxious. Over half of 11- to 14-year-olds said they had seen online pornography, with four out of 10 of those saying it had affected their relationships with others of their age.

Frankie Sandford, of the group the Saturdays, and the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, are among those who are backing a campaign – YoungMinds Vs – launched at the houses of parliament – that calls for action on the issues young people say are the biggest problems.

"I get to talk to a lot of young people and I know there are so many who are really suffering and struggling with life," Sandford said. "That's why I really support the YoungMinds Vs campaign, because it's raising awareness of the importance of young people having good mental health, and everything that can be done to make that happen, including young people getting access to help when they need it. "I also think it's great that the campaign is being led by young people: it's all about their experiences, and their voices are at the heart of it. That's why this campaign is different from others, and that's why I support it."

Miliband said: "YoungMinds' survey exposes some of the pressures children are under in Britain today, from bullying and sexualisation to worries about job prospects. And when they feel depressed, too many young people are afraid to speak out, or find a lack of support when they do.

"Good mental health is essential for children to thrive and succeed. That's why we must ensure all young people have access to the help and support they need, when they need it. "Mental health is the biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age, and young people's mental health must be a top priority for Britain."

The YoungMinds campaigns director, Lucie Russell, said: "Every day we hear about the unprecedented toxic climate children and young people face in a 24/7 online culture where they can never switch off."

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